Chapter 8:
Cole looked at Piper's hand as it enveloped the silver ring. Phoebe put her arm around Cole taking his attention off of the ring. He gave a fake smile toward Piper reassuring her that he was okay. The feeling of wanting power was faintly there, but Cole tried to ignore it. Piper held the ring in her hand. She felt something go through to her soul unable to recognize it, Piper pushed her free hand through her hair sighing not knowing what to do. Paige looked around seeing the food on the floor as Leo stood there thinking of how to destroy the ring.
"I guess I'll clean this up." Paige said. She walked toward the floor and started to gather food in the plate. Phoebe jogged over and started to help as Piper sat on the bed still trying to identify the feeling that rushed through her as she clasped the ring in her hand. Piper put the ring on the bed next to her. Cole and Leo were looking at what Piper was doing. The feeling in Piper was still there but it wasn't as strong as it was when she held it. A cool evil shiver went up Piper's back making her give a small jump on the bed. Phoebe got up and she told them she was going downstairs to get the vacuum cleaner as Paige was going downstairs to put the food in the trash. Leo was still studying Piper.
"Are you okay Piper?" Leo asked as he stepped closer toward her. Cole was wondering the same thing.
Piper gave a fake smile, which Cole knew she wasn't really smiling but he didn't say anything. "Yeah I'm okay. Its just that…" Piper's voice trailed off not finishing what she was saying. She didn't know what to say next if she couldn't identify what she was feeling of course.
"What?" Cole and Leo asked at the same time. Cole crossed his arms after Leo looked at him.
"I don't know Leo." Piper looked at Cole then the ring. "I guess I'm just stressed that's all." Piper sighed again. She picked the ring up having the same feeling except stronger.
Leo put his hand on Piper's back. "You want to go out and eat breakfast?" He looked at his watch. "Or maybe lunch at this time." Piper nodded giving a yes, then Leo looked at the ceiling. "I have to go. The Elders are calling me for something." He gave Piper a kiss on the forehead then blue and white lights circled his body making him leave the room. Piper didn't really say anything in response. Cole stood there as Piper was still sitting on the bed. They were both lost in thought, both wondering what feeling was it that came from the ring.
Phoebe came into the room with a vacuum cleaner. She put it down then looked at Piper and Cole with puzzled look. "Piper? Cole?" Phoebe said quietly. She broke both of their concentration. Cole looked up, slightly startled. Piper did too.
"I'm going to take a walk Phoebe. I need time to think about some things." Cole said. Phoebe thought she understood thinking that Cole needed time to reflect on his father's death which he did, but he had other concerns on this mind. Piper still held the ring in her hand. She stood up and walked over to Phoebe.
"Hold out your hand Phoebes." Piper said. Phoebe held her hand out on command then Piper dropped the ring into her hand. Phoebe felt nothing different. No new feeling rushed through Phoebe as it did with her and Cole. Piper looked at Phoebe, studying her features. "Do you feel anything…different?" Piper asked after a minute.
Phoebe looked at Piper like was crazy. "No Piper. Why?" Phoebe shifted her standing position feeling slightly uncomfortably just standing there with a ring in her hand.
"I'm…just…wondering. I'll be back. I need some fresh air." Piper said. Phoebe wanted to say something more but she didn't know what to say. Piper took the ring back putting it in her pocket. Piper left the room after Phoebe plugged the vacuum cleaner and started it. Piper walked outside the door. She saw Cole and caught with him as he was leaving the driveway going down the sidewalk. The sun was shining, making the rays of light reflect from the car windshields. There were barely any clouds in the light blue sky.
"Cole!" Piper called after him. Cole turned around feeling slightly upset. He wanted time to be alone. Piper had been bombarding him night before and now she would again. He turned back around in the direction he was walking not saying anything. "Cole, can I talk to you?" Piper asked. She looked at him hoping to get a response.
"You blew up my father. Of course you can a response. How about leave me the fuck alone." Piper was astonished by what he said. Cole didn't really do or say anything when he first found out that his father was dead, so why was he so mad now? Before, he didn't even sound like he liked his father. Cole himself was just hoping to get Piper to leave him alone so that he could attend to some business.
"Why are you so mad?" Cole spun around stopping Piper.
"Why am I mad? My father is gone. What more do I need to say. I need time alone. Just like you did when Prue died." Cole recalled the moment when it all happened with Prue.
Piper didn't know what to say. She didn't want anyone to bring up Prue or her name. Tears came to her eyes but they didn't fall. "Don't you dare bring her up or I swear…" Piper didn't have time to finish.
"Or you dare to what?" Cole asked. He didn't give her time to finish. . "You may be a damn witch but that doesn't bother me. You may be able to blow things and people up but I don't give a shit. You can't do anything to me Piper because I don't care. Phoebe would kill you any way if you tried to harm me. So leave me the hell alone!" Cole said. He didn't really know what he said. Something inside him made him say those words. He mean for them to be so harsh. He'd never say anything like this to any of the witches. Piper was taken aback by the words.
She gulped swallowing nothing in her mouth. She took the ring from her pocket and held it in front of Cole. There, she could see the glint return to his eyes. "Do you feel anything about this ring Cole? Is there some kind of feeling that goes through you when you see or hold the ring?" She asked him. Cole stuttered telling her no. She knew he was lying. "Tell me the truth. Please or we all could be in danger." She said quietly.
Cole sighed placing a hand on his hip. He didn't know how to express his feelings about the ring nor did he want to tell them any way. "I don't know how I feel Piper." Piper took Cole's big hands and placed the ring in them. He got his feeling of wanting power back. He closed his eyes feeling the emotion return again. She asked him again how he felt. He didn't say anything at first but then he slowly answered. "I…get a feeling that I've had when I was….demonic."
Piper looked into his eyes to get the truth. "And what feeling was that?"
"Power." He almost whispered the words. Then he thought about why Piper was asking. "Why are you asking? Are you feeling something as well?" Cole asked handing the ring back to Piper. Phoebe and Paige looked out of the Manor, Piper and Cole barely in view but they could see them.
Piper looked at the ground then she looked at Cole. "I don't know Cole. I've never felt something as strong as this before. It feels…evil though." Piper answered. She felt uncomfortable now. As if someone was watching was what Piper felt as she put the ring in her pocket again. "Well that's all I wanted to know." Piper said trying to break the silence. Cole turned around and continued his walk. His thoughts were reflecting on the conversation. Piper walked back to the Manor. Paige and Phoebe left the window.
